Serious accident in Willendorf: Train collides with truck at railway crossing

On January 7, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. in Willendorf, Neunkirchen district, there was a collision between an ÖBB railway set and an unrestricted level crossing with traffic lights. The incident occurred when an unlit truck, driven alone by the driver, collided with the train. According to the truck driver and an independent witness, no signals (neither red nor yellow) were visible on the traffic lights, which prompted the Willendorf police station to investigate the cause of the failure.

The train crew consisted of two train drivers, a trainer and a trainee, as well as seven passengers. Only one person, a passenger, was slightly injured in the accident and was taken to Neunkirchen Hospital. The two drivers, both the train driver and the truck driver, remained uninjured. At 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., federal highway 26 was closed due to the accident and a diversion was set up. The truck was rescued by the Willendorf fire department, while ÖBB employees withdrew the railway set. All three drivers, two from the train side and one from the truck side, had negative results in the alcohol tests carried out.

Costs and responsibility at level crossings

Some facts about level crossings and their associated costs were suggested by further research. The cost of securing railway crossings is divided equally between the railway company and the person responsible for road construction, although the municipalities are often left with higher expenses in the case of municipal roads. The cost of such security systems can be up to 500,000 euros, which represents a significant financial burden for local communities.

The legal basis is clearly anchored in the road traffic regulations and the railway crossing regulations with clear rules of conduct. Road users are obliged to adjust their speed in order to be able to stop in front of the railway crossing and must check by visual and acoustic signals whether it is possible to cross safely. When there are lights or barriers, vehicles must stop when the light is yellow or red. According to the findings, responsibility for accidents at level crossings usually lies with road users.

Despite technical safeguards such as traffic lights and barriers, there are still risks of accidents, especially since secured intersections are not immune to accidents. An adjustment of the inspection periods for unsecured railway crossings from five to at least ten years is required, as is a new financing regulation in the Railway Act. The federal government should take over the financing because the use of the roads not only benefits the residents but is of a broader nature.

In summary, the incident in Willendorf and the legal and financial aspects based on it show how important preventative measures and clear regulations are for safety at level crossings. For more information about legal responsibilities in such incidents you can gemeindebund.at visit.